title: The impact of the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet on the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity: a study in the Romanian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have shown that vitamin B12 scavenges superoxide anion as effectively as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and has a key role in the defense against oxidative stress. The status of vitamin B12 is suboptimal in a substantial number of vegans and even vegetarians. We therefore evaluated in lacto-ovo vegetarians (LOVs) who did not take vitamin B12 supplements the impact of the duration of this diet on the vitamin B12 status, the erythrocyte SOD activity and the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 38 non-vegetarians and 48 LOVs divided, according to the duration of this diet, into two subgroups: LOV1 (2-10 years) and LOV2 (11-29 years). The erythrocyte SOD activity and the serum concentrations of vitamin B12 and MDA were assayed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In LOVs, the mean serum vitamin B12 concentration, the erythrocyte SOD activity and the mean serum MDA concentration were statistically significantly lower that in non-vegetarians. No significant association between the serum vitamin B12 and MDA concentrations and the duration of the LOV diet were observed. A significant inverse linear correlation between SOD activity and the duration of adherence to LOV diet was observed in LOVs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The duration of LOV diet has impact only on SOD activity. Further researches, both in vitro and in vivo, are necessary to understand the underlying molecular mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Haţieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boancă
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, 'Iuliu Haţieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Colosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Haţieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Crăciun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012383:Romania; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase